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July '04 Update

© Paul Landkamer

Time is whipping past. Perhaps there's too much busy-ness in my life right now. I didn't think I had a lot to review this month, but on reviewing my notes, I guess there are quite a few artists heard and not-yet-covered.

About how I review: I listen to the music, read the lyrics, and, for artists with whom I'm not familiar, I browse websites and any other printed material I find. Seldom do I have the blessing of having met artists I review. I try to put in writing, my findings on sound and message. If someone expresses an opposing opinion to mine, I won't change what I've written if I feel I'm still on track. If I feel I've reviewed improperly, I'll let you know. Hopefully, I can edit the article to reflect what I think are more accurate findings. I'll at least put something in the discussions.

What I write is, for the most part, opinion. Don't let someone's opinion upset you. (Yeah, I still feel weird over the Amos review.)

Anyway, on with the Update.

Not Yet in the Collection

• Bebo Norman: Countryish light rock. Soft, breathy and sandy vocals. Lots of acoustic sounds and maybe too much keyboardy strings-effects. Nice vocal harmonies. Lots of slurred and mumbled words, and too much quiet sleepy-time stuff. [BOD 3]

• Fred Hammond: Funk/rock choir-backed Praise and Worship music. Caribbean sounds slip in from time to time. Fred Hammond would make for an up-lifting concert, but I can only give a [2] for personal listening.

• DC Talk's Nu Thang: I cringed as I checked this CD out from the library. Either my taste in music is broading (getting numbed?), or this is actually a pleasant listen for rap music. The lyrics are all strong in their Christianity. I actually liked it. Nu Thang would be reasonable addition to my collection, but I'm not quite ready to pay full retail for it. I give it a [BOD 4].

From the Collection

• Erin O'Donnell: Vocals like Sarah Masen, but slightly more poppish with a light country flavor. By way of radio, I liked "Janie's Garden" and checked out some Amazon sound-clips and wasn't impressed enough to buy. Along came a deal from Columbiahouse that I couldn't pass up, so I ordered the CD. Those short sound clips don't always do an artist justice. The CD started out up-beat, but ended on a slow too-lethargic note. [3]

• Cadet: Alternative with lots of heavy stuff, but also ethereal and jangly, with psychedelic sounds. Then they played light and friendly stuff. Stylistically changing, but all strong music. I even got to hear some accordion-laced MoR music. Each track gave slightly different flavored ear-candy. [4]

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